Professor Dr Nasser Mahmood paid tribute to the enduring role of teachers, saying their work and names live on long after they are gone. Speaking at Aiwan-e-Quaid during an event organised under the Education Network project by the Nazariya Pakistan Council on World Teachers’ Day, he highlighted that teachers shape the nation’s future and deserve recognition for their selfless service. He added that religious and social values place teachers on a par with parents and that it is the responsibility of each teacher to prove worthy of that trust.
Mian Muhammad Javed, chair of the council, used his presidential address to urge the government to treat education as an essential duty and to take decisive steps to bring more than 20 million out-of-school children into classrooms. He stressed that achieving this target will require substantial funding and called on philanthropists and private organisations to partner with public efforts under the Education Network to expand access to learning.
Renowned intellectual and former diplomat Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi invoked religious teachings to underscore the high status of educators, noting that the Quran encourages reading, reflection and action, and that those who spread knowledge receive blessings from people and creation alike. His remarks reinforced the message that teachers hold an elevated place in society.
Former senator and chairperson of the Education Network Pakistan, Razeena Alam Khan, welcomed Professor Dr Nasser Mahmood as the event’s chief guest and highlighted the council’s initiative to recognise outstanding educators from public, private, formal, informal and religious schools across the capital and its suburbs. She said such recognition is a sign of the nation’s gratitude for teachers who perform despite numerous challenges.
Senior members of the council’s executive committee, including former ambassador Salahuddin Chowdhry, education experts Dr Muhammad Saleem and Dr Muhammad Afzal Babar, as well as Nargis Nasir, Nabgha Najib, Mirza Wajahat Baig and Hamid Qaisar, spoke about the central role of teachers and the need for sustained support through programmes such as the Education Network. Their addresses reinforced calls for collaborative efforts to strengthen frontline education.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and educational books to teachers who demonstrated notable performance in classrooms and madrasas. The event drew a large turnout of educators from government and private schools, informal learning centres and religious seminaries, alongside former federal secretary of finance Abdullah Yousaf, former election commission secretary Kunwar Muhammad Dilshad, and writer Afshan Abbasi.
The Education Network initiative now faces a clear challenge: translate recognition into action by mobilising resources and partnerships to enrol millions of children currently out of school. Speakers emphasised that government leadership combined with philanthropic and private sector support can create meaningful progress for Pakistan’s next generation of learners.
